雙語《小約翰》 四

IV
四

“Children！children！A summer like this is a terrible infliction！”sighed one of three large stoves which stood side by side to bewail their fate in a garret of the old house．“For weeks I have not seen one living soul or heard one rational remark．And always that hollow within！It is fearful！”
“煞派門！夏天是多么討厭的無聊呵！”在老屋子的倉庫里，很懊惱地一同站著的三個火爐中的一個嘆息說，“許多星期以來，我見不到活的東西，也聽不到合理的話。而且這久遠(yuǎn)的內(nèi)部的空虛！實(shí)在可怕！”

“I am full of spiders' webs，”said the second．“And that would never happen in the winter．”
“我這里滿是蜘蛛網(wǎng)，”第二個說，“這在冬天也不會有的?！?/span>

“And I am so dry and dusty that I shall be quite ashamed when， as winter comes on，the Black Man appears again，as the poet says．”
“我并且到處是灰塵，如果那黑的人再來的時候，一定要使我羞死。”

A few shovels and tongs which lay on the floor，wrapped in paper to preserve them from rust，also expressed their opinion of this frivolous mode of speech．
幾個燈和火鉤，那些，是因?yàn)轭A(yù)防生銹，用紙包著，散躺在地上各處的，對于這樣輕率的語氣，都毫無疑義地宣布抗?fàn)帯?/span>

But suddenly they were all silent，for the shutter in the roof was raised；a beam of light shone in on the gloomy place，and the whole party lapsed into silence under their dust and confusion．
但談?wù)撏蝗怀聊?，因?yàn)榈醮耙驯焕穑瑳_進(jìn)一條光線來，直到最暗的角上，而且將全社會都顯出在它們的塵封的混亂里面了。

It was Johannes who had come to disturb their conversation．This loft was at all times a delightful spot to him，and now，after the strange adventures of the last few days，he often came here．Here he found peace and solitude．There was a window，too，closed by a shutter，which looked out towards the sand-hills．It was a great delight to open the shutter suddenly，and，after the mysterious twilight of the garret，to see all at once the sunlit landscape shut in by the fair，rolling dimes．
那是約翰，他來了，而且攪擾了它們的談話。這倉庫常給約翰以強(qiáng)烈的刺激?，F(xiàn)在，自從出了最近的奇事以來，他屢屢逃到那里去。他于此發(fā)見安靜和寂寞。那地方也有一個窗，是用抽替關(guān)起來的，也望見岡阜的一面。忽然拉開窗抽替，并且在滿是秘密的倉庫之后，驀地看見眼前有遙遠(yuǎn)的，明亮的景色，直到那白色的，軟軟地起伏著的連岡，是一種很大的享用。

It was three weeks since that Friday evening，and Johannes had seen nothing of his friend since．The key was gone，and there was nothing now to assure him that he had not dreamed it all．Often， indeed，he could not conquer a fear that it was all nothing but fancy．He grew very silent，and his father was alarmed，for he observed that since that night out of doors Johannes had certainly had something the matter with him．But Johannes was only pining for Windekind．
從那天金曜日的晚上起，早過了三星期了，約翰全沒有見到他的朋友。小鎖匙也去了，他更缺少了并非做夢的證據(jù)。他常怕一切不過是幻想。他就沉靜起來。他的父親憂悶地想，約翰從在岡上的那晚以來，一定是得了病。然而約翰是神往于旋兒。

“Can he be less fond of me than I of him？”he murmured，as he stood at the garret window and looked out over the green and flowery garden．“Why is it that he never comes near me now？ If I could—but perhaps he has other friends，and perhaps he loves them more than me．I have no other friend，not one．I love no one but him！ I love him so much—oh so much！”
“他的愛我，不及我的愛他么？”當(dāng)他站在屋頂窗的旁邊，眺望著綠葉繁花的園中時，他瑣屑地猜想著，“他為什么不常到我這里來，而且已經(jīng)很久了呢？倘使我能夠……但他也許有許多朋友罷。比起我來，他該是更愛那些罷？……我沒有別的朋友，一個也沒有。我只愛他。愛得很，唉，愛得很！”

Then，against the deep blue sky he saw a flight of six white doves，who wheeled，flapping their wings，above the roof over his head．It seemed as though they were moved by one single impulse， so quickly did they veer and turn all together，as if to enjoy to the utmost the sea of sunshine and summer air in which they were flying．
他看見，一群雪白的鴿子的飛翔，怎樣地由蔚藍(lán)的天空中降下，這原是以可聞的鼓翼聲，在房屋上面盤旋的。那仿佛有一種思想驅(qū)遣著它們，每一瞬息便變換方向，宛如要在它們所浮游著的夏光和夏氣的大海里，成了排豪飲似的。

Suddenly they swept down towards Johannes's window in the roof，and settled with much flapping and fussing on the water-pipe，where they pattered to and fro with endless cooings．One of them had a red feather in his wing．He plucked and pulled at it till he had pulled it out，and then he flew to Johannes and gave it to him．
它們忽然飛向約翰的屋頂窗前來了，用了各種的鼓翼和抖翅，停在房檐上，在那里它們便忙碌地格磔著，細(xì)步往來。其中一匹的翅上有一枝紅色的小翎。它拔而又拔，拔得很長久，待到它拔到嘴里的時候，它便飛向約翰，將這交給他。

Hardly had Johannes taken it in his hand when he felt that he was as light and swift as one of the doves．He stretched out his arms， the doves flew up，and Johannes found himself in their midst，in the spacious free air and glorious sunshine．There was nothing around him but the pure blue，and the bright shimmer of fluttering white wings．
約翰一接取，便覺得他這樣地輕而且快了，正如一個鴿子。他伸開四肢，鴿子飛式的飛起來，約翰并且漂浮在它們的中央，在自由的空氣中和清朗的日光里。環(huán)繞著他的更無別物，除了純凈的藍(lán)碧和潔白的鴿翅的閃閃的光輝。

They flew across the great garden，towards the wood，where the thick tree-tops waved in the distance like the swell of a green sea．Johannes looked down and saw his father through the open window， sitting in the house-place，—Simon was lying in the window seat with his crossed forepaws，basking in the sun．
他們飛過了林中的大花園，那茂密的樹梢在遠(yuǎn)處波動，像是碧海里的波濤。約翰向下看，看見他父親坐在住房的暢開的窗邊；西蒙是拳著前爪坐在窗臺上，而且曬太陽取暖。

“I wonder if they see me！”thought he；but he dared not call out to them．
“他們看見我沒有？”他想，然而叫呢他卻不敢。

Presto was trotting about the garden walks，sniffing at every shrub and behind every wall，and scratching against the door of every shed or greenhouse to find his master．
普烈斯多在園子里奔波，遍齅著各處的草叢，各坐的墻后，還抓著各個溫室的門戶，想尋出小主人來。

“Presto，Presto！”cried Johannes．The dog looked up and began to wag his tail and yelp most dolefully．
“普烈斯多！普烈斯多！”約翰叫著。小狗仰視，便搖尾，而且訴苦地呻吟。

“I am coming back，Presto！only wait，”cried Johannes，but he was too far away．
“我回來，普烈斯多！等著就是！”約翰大聲說，然而他已經(jīng)離得太遠(yuǎn)了。

They soared over the wood，and the rooks flew cawing out of the top branches where they had built their nests．It was high summer，and the scent of the blossoming limes came up in steamy gusts from the green wood．In an empty nest，at the top of a tall lime-tree，sat Windekind，with his wreath of bindweed．He nodded to Johannes．
他們飄過樹林去，烏鴉在有著它們的窠的高的枝梢上，啞啞地叫著飛翔。這正是盛夏，滿開的菩提樹花的香氣云一般從碧林中升騰起來。在一枝高的菩提樹梢的一個空巢里，坐著旋兒，額上的他的冠是旋花的花托，向約翰點(diǎn)點(diǎn)頭。

“There you are！that is good，”said he．“I sent for you；now we can remain together for a long time—if you like．”
“你到這里了？這很好，”他說，“我教迎取你去了。我們就可以長在一處——如果你愿意。”

“I like it very much，”said Johannes．
“我早愿意。”約翰說。

Then he thanked the friendly doves who had brought him hither，and went down with Windekind into the woods．There it was cool and shady．The oriole piped his tune，almost always the same， but still a little different．
他于是謝了給他引導(dǎo)的友愛的鴿子，和旋兒一同降到樹林中。那地方是涼爽而且多蔭。鷦鷯幾乎永是唿哨著這一套，但也微有一些分別。

“Poor bird！”said Windekind．“He was once a bird of Paradise．That you still may see by his strange yellow feathers；but he was transformed and turned out of Paradise．There is a word which can restore him to his former splendid plumage，and open Paradise to him once more；but he has forgotten the word；and now，day after day，he tries to find his way back there．He says something like the word，but it is not quite right．”
“可憐的鳥兒，”旋兒說，“先前它是天堂鳥。這你還可以從它那特別的黃色的翅子上認(rèn)出來——但它改變了，而且被逐出天堂了。有一句話，這句話能夠還給它原先的華美的衣衫，并且使它再回天堂去。然而它忘卻了這句話?，F(xiàn)在它天天在試驗(yàn)，想再覓得它。雖然有一兩句的類似，但都不是正對的?！?/span>

Numberless insects glittered like dancing crystals in the sun's rays where they pierced between the thick leaves．When they listened sharply they could hear a humming，like a great concert on one string，filling the whole wood．This was the song of the sunbeams．
無數(shù)飛蠅在穿過濃陰的日光中，飛揚(yáng)的晶粒似的營營著。人如果留神傾聽，便可以聽出，它們的營營，宛如一場大的、單調(diào)的合奏，充滿了全樹林，仿佛是日光的歌唱。

The ground was covered with deep dark-green moss，and Johannes had again grown so tiny that it appeared to him like another wood on the ground，beneath the greater wood．What elegant little stems！and how closely they grew！It was difficult to make a way between them，and the moss forest seemed terribly large．
繁密的深綠的莓苔蓋著地面，而約翰又變得這么小了，他見得這像是大森林區(qū)域里的一座新林。干子是多么精美，叢生是多么茂密。要走通是不容易的，而且苔林也顯得非常之大。

Presently they crossed an ants' track．Hundreds of ants were hurrying up and down，some dragging chips of wood or little blades of grass in their jaws．There was such a bustle that Johannes was almost bewildered．
于是他們到了一座螞蟻的橋梁。成百的螞蟻忙忙碌碌地在四處走——有幾個在顎間銜著小樹枝、小葉片或小草梗。這是有如此雜沓，至使約翰幾乎頭暈了。

It was a long time before one of the ants would spare them a word．They were all too busy．At last they found an old ant who was set to watch the plant-lice from which the ants get honeydew．As his herd was a very quiet one he could very well give a little time to the strangers，and let them see the great nest．It was situated at the foot of an old tree-trunk，and was very large，with hundreds of passages and cells．The plant-louse herd led the way，and conducted the visitors into every part of it，even into the nurseries where the young larv? were creeping out of their cocoons．Johannes was amazed and delighted．
許多工夫之后，他們才遇到一個螞蟻，愿意和他們來談天。它們?nèi)w都忙于工作。他們終于遇見一個年老的螞蟻，那差使是，為著看守細(xì)小的蚜蟲的，螞蟻們由此得到它們的甘露。因?yàn)樗男笕汉馨察o，它已經(jīng)可以顧及外人了，還將那大的窠指示給他們。窠是在一株大樹的根上蓋造起來的，很寬廣，而且包含著百數(shù)的道路和房間。蚜蟲牧者加以說明，還引了訪問者往各處，直到那有著稚弱的幼蟲從白色的襁褓中匍匐而出的兒童室。約翰是驚訝而且狂喜了。

The old ant told them that every one was very busy by reason of the campaign which was immediately at hand．Another colony of ants，dwelling not far off，was to be attacked by a strong force， their nest destroyed and the larv? carried off or killed；and as all the strength at their command must be employed，all the most necessary tasks must be got through beforehand．
年老的螞蟻講起，為了就要發(fā)生的軍事，大家正在強(qiáng)大的激動里。對于離此不遠(yuǎn)的別一蟻群，要用大的強(qiáng)力去襲擊，掃蕩窠巢，劫奪幼蟲或者殺戮；這是要盡全力的，大家就必須預(yù)先準(zhǔn)備那最為切要的工作。

“What is the campaign about？”said Johannes．“I do not like fighting．”
“為什么要有軍事呢？”約翰說，“這我覺得不美?！?/span>

“Nay，nay！”replied the herdsman．“It is a very grand and praiseworthy war．You must remember that it is the soldier-ants we are going to attack；we shall exterminate the race，and that is a very good work．”
“不然，不然！”看守者說，“這是很美的可以贊頌的軍事。想罷，我們要去攻取的，是戰(zhàn)斗螞蟻呵；我們?nèi)?，只為殲滅它們這一族，這是很好的事業(yè)?！?/span>

“Then you are not soldier-ants？”
“你們不是戰(zhàn)斗螞蟻么？”

“Certainly not．What are you thinking about？ We are the peace-loving ants．”
“自然不是！你在怎樣想呢？我們是平和螞蟻。”

“What do you mean by that？”
“這是什么意思呢？”

“Do not you know？ Well，I will explain．Once upon a time all ants were continually fighting，not a day passed without some great battle．Then there came a good，wise ant，who thought that he should save much sorrow if he could persuade them all to agree among themselves to fight no more．But when he said so every one thought him very odd，and for that reason they proceeded to bite him in pieces．Still，after this，other ants came who said the same thing，and they too were bitten to pieces．But at last so many were of this opinion that biting them to pieces was too hard work for the others．So then they called themselves the Peaceful Ants，and they did everything which their first teacher had done，and those who opposed them they，in their turn，bit in pieces．In this way almost all the ants at the present time have become Peaceful Ants，and the fragments of the first Peaceful Ant are carefully and reverently preserved．We have his head—the genuine head．We have devastated and annihilated twelve other colonies who pretended to have the True Head．Now there are but four who dare to do so．They call themselves Peaceful Ants，but in fact they are Fighting Ants by nature—but we have the True Head，and the Peaceful Ant had but one head．Now we are going to-morrow to destroy the thirteenth colony．So you see it is a good work．”
“你不知道這事么？我要告訴你。有那么一個時候，因?yàn)橐磺形浵伋３?zhàn)爭，免于大戰(zhàn)的日子是沒有的。于是出了一位好的有智慧的螞蟻，它發(fā)見，如果螞蟻們彼此約定，從此不再戰(zhàn)爭，便將省去許多的勞力。待到它一說，大家覺得這特別，并且就因?yàn)檫@原因，大家開始將它咬成小塊了。后來又有別的螞蟻們，也像它一樣的意思。這些也都被咬成了小塊。然而終于，這樣的是這么多，至使這咬斷的事，在別個也成了太忙的工作。從此它們便自稱平和螞蟻，而且都主張那第一個平和螞蟻是不錯的。有誰來爭辯，它們這邊便將它撕成小塊子。這模樣，所有螞蟻就幾乎都成了平和螞蟻了，那第一個平和螞蟻的殘體，還被慎重而敬畏地保存起來。我們有著頭顱，是真正的。我們已經(jīng)將別的十二個自以為有真頭的部落毀壞，并且屠戮了。它們自稱平和蟻，然而自然倒是戰(zhàn)斗蟻，因?yàn)檎娴念^為我們所有，而平和螞蟻是只有一個頭的。現(xiàn)在我們就要動手，去殲除那第十三個。這確是一件好事業(yè)?！?/span>

“Yes，yes，”said Johannes．“It is very strange！”
“是呵，是呵，”約翰說，“這很值得注意！”

He was in fact a little uneasy，and felt happier when，after thanking the herd-keeper，they had taken their leave，and were sitting far from the Ant colony，rocked on the top of a tall grass-stem，under the shade of a graceful fern．
他本有些怕起來了，但當(dāng)他們謝了懇切的牧者并且作過別，遠(yuǎn)離了螞蟻民族，在羊齒草叢的陰涼之下，休息在一枝美麗的彎曲的草梗上的時候，他便覺得安靜得許多了。

“Hooh！”sighed Johannes，“that was a bloodthirsty and stupid tribe！”
“阿！”約翰嘆息，“那是一個渴血的胡涂的社會！”

Windekind laughed，and swung up and down on the grass haulm．
旋兒笑著，一上一下地低昂著他所坐的草梗。

“Oh！”said he，“you must not call them stupid．Men go to the ants to get wisdom．”
“阿！”他說，“你不必責(zé)備它們胡涂。人們?nèi)粢斆髌饋?，還須到螞蟻那里去。”

Then Windekind showed Johannes all the wonders of the wood；they flew up to visit the birds in the tree-tops and in the thick shrubs， went down into the moles' clever dwellings，and saw the bees' nest in the old hollow tree．
于是旋兒指示約翰以樹林的所有的神奇——他們倆飛向樹梢的禽鳥們，又進(jìn)茂密的叢莽，下到土撥鼠的美術(shù)的住所，還看老樹腔里的蜂房。

At last they came out on an open place surrounded by brush-wood．Honeysuckle grew there in great abundance．Its luxuriant trails climbed over everything，and the scented flowers peeped from among the greenery．A swarm of tomtits hopped and fluttered among the leaves with a great deal of twittering and chirping．
末后，他們到了一個圍著樹叢的處所。成堆成阜地生著忍冬藤。繁茂的枝條到處蔓延在灌木之上，群綠里盛裝著馥郁的花冠。一只吵鬧的白頰鳥，高聲地唧唧足足著，在嫩枝間跳躍而且鼓翼。

“Let us stay here a little while，”said Johannes；“this is splendid．”
“給我們在這里過一會罷，”約翰請托，“這里是美觀的。”

“Very well，”said Windekind．“And you shall see something very droll．”
“好，”旋兒說，“你也就要看見一點(diǎn)可笑的。”

There were blue-bells in the grass．Johannes sat down by one of them and began to talk with the bees and the butterflies．They were friends of the blue-bells'，so the conversation went on at a great rate．
地上的草里，站著藍(lán)色的鈴蘭。約翰坐在其中一株的近旁，并且開始議論那蜜蜂和胡蝶。這些是鈴蘭的好朋友，因此這談天就像河流一般。

What was that？ A huge shadow came across the grass，and something like a white cloud fell down on the blue-bell—Johannes had scarcely time to get away，—he flew to Windekind who was sitting high up in a honeysuckle flower．Then he saw that the white cloud was a pocket-handkerchief，and bump！A sturdy damsel sat down on the handkerchief and on the poor blue-bell which was under it．
但是，那是什么呢？一個大影子來到草上，還有仿佛白云似的東西在鈴蘭上面飄下來。約翰幾乎來不及免于粉身碎骨——他飛向那坐在盛開的忍冬花里的旋兒。他這才看出，那白云是一塊手巾——并且，蓬！——在手巾上，也在底下的可憐的鈴蘭上，坐下了一個肥胖的太太。

He had not time to bewail it before the sound of voices and the cracking of branches filled the glade in the forest．A crowd of men and women appeared．
他無暇憐惜它，因?yàn)槁曇舻男鷩W和樹枝的騷擾充滿了林中的隙地，而且，來了一大堆人們。

“Now we shall have something to laugh at，”said Windekind．
“那就，我們要笑了?！毙齼赫f。

The party came on，the ladies with umbrellas in their hands，the men with tall chimney-pot hats，and almost all in black，completely black．In the green sunny wood they looked like great，ugly ink-spots on a beautiful picture．
于是他們來了，那人類——女人們手里拿著籃子和傘，男人們頭上戴著高而硬的黑帽子。他們幾乎統(tǒng)是黑的，漆黑的。他們在晴明的碧綠的樹林里，很顯得特殊，正如一個大而且丑的墨污，在一幅華美的圖畫上。

The brushwood was broken down，flowers trodden underfoot；many white handkerchiefs were spread，and the yielding grass and patient moss sighed as they were crushed under the weight they had to bear，fearing much that they might never recover from the blow．
灌木被四散沖開，花朵踏壞了。又?jǐn)傞_了許多白手巾，柔順的草莖和忍耐的莓苔是嘆息著在底下?lián)?fù)，還恐怕遭了這樣的打擊，從此不能復(fù)元。

The smoke of cigars curled among the honeysuckle wreaths，and enviously supplanted the delicate odour of their blossoms．Sharp voices scared the gleeful tomtits，who，with terrified and indignant piping，took refuge in the nearest trees．
雪茄的煙氣在忍冬叢上蜿蜒著，兇惡地趕走它們的花的柔香。粗大的聲音嚇退了歡樂的白頰鳥的鳴噪，這在恐怖和忿怒中唧唧地叫著，逃向近旁的樹上去了。

One man rose and went to stand on a little mound．He had long light hair，and a pale face．He said something，and then all the men and women opened their mouths very wide and began to sing so loud，that the rooks flew cawing out of their high nests，and the inquisitive little rabbits，who had come from the sand-hills to see what was going on，ran off in alarm，and were still running fully a quarter of an hour after they were safe at home again in the dunes．
一個男人從那堆中站起來，并且安在岡尖上。他有著長的、金色的頭發(fā)和蒼白的臉。他說了幾句，大家便都大張著嘴，唱起歌來，有這么高聲，致使烏鴉們都嘎嘎地從它們的窠巢飛到高處，還有好奇的野兔，本是從岡邊上過來看一看的，也吃驚地跑走，并且直跑至整一刻鐘之久，才又安全地到了沙岡。

Windekind laughed and fanned away the cigar-smoke with a fern leaf；but there were tears in Johannes's eyes，though not from the tobacco．
旋兒笑了，用一片羊齒葉抵御著雪茄的煙氣；約翰的眼里含了淚，卻并不是因?yàn)闊煛?/span>

“Windekind，”said he，“I want to go．This is all so ugly and so rude．”
“旋兒，”他說，“我要走開，有這么討厭和喧鬧。”

“No，no，we must stay．You will laugh；it will be more amusing．”
“不，我們還該停留。你就要笑，還有許多好玩的呢。”

The singing ceased and the pale man began to speak．He shouted hard，that every one might hear him；but what he said sounded very kind．He called them all his brothers and sisters， spoke of the glories of nature and the wonders of creation，of God's sunshine and the dear little birds and flowers．
唱歌停止了，那蒼白男人便起來說話。他大聲嚷，要使大家都懂得，但他所說的，卻過于親愛。他稱人們?yōu)樾值芎玩⒚?，并且議論那華美的天然，還議論造化的奇跡，論上帝的日光，論花和禽鳥。

“What is this？”asked Johannes．“How can he talk of these things？ Does he know you？ Is he a friend of yours？”
“這叫什么？”約翰問，“他怎么說起這個來呢？他認(rèn)識你么？他是你的朋友么？”

Windekind shook his flower-crowned head disdainfully．
旋兒輕蔑地?fù)u那戴冠的頭。

“He does not know me，and the sun and the birds and the flowers even less．What he says is all lies．”
“他不認(rèn)識我，太陽、禽鳥、花，也一樣地很少。凡他所說的，都是謊?！?/span>

The people listened very attentively．The stout lady who sat on the blue-bell began to cry several times，and wiped her eyes on her skirt，as she could not get at her handkerchief．
人們十分虔敬地聽著。那坐在藍(lán)的鈴蘭上面的胖太太，還哭出來了好幾回，用她的衣角來拭淚，因?yàn)樗龥]有可使的手巾。

The pale man said that God had made the sun shine so brightly for the sake of their meeting here，and Windekind laughed and threw an acorn down from the thick leaves，which hit the tip of his nose．
蒼白的男人說，上帝為了他們的聚會，使太陽這樣快活地照臨。旋兒便訕笑他，并且從密葉中將一顆槲樹子擲在他的鼻子上。

“He shall learn to know better，”said he；“my father shines for him，indeed！a fine idea！”
“他要換一個別的意見，”他說，“我的父親須為他們照臨——他究竟妄想著什么！”

But the pale man was too much excited to pay any heed to the acorn，which seemed to have dropped from the sky；he talked a long time，and the longer the louder．At last he was red and purple in the face，doubled his fists，and shouted so loud that the leaves quivered and the grass stems were dismayed，and waved to and fro．When at last he came to an end they all began to sing again．
但那蒼白的男人，卻因?yàn)橐肋@仿佛從空中落下來似的槲樹子，正在冒火了。他說得很長久，越久聲音就越高。末后，他臉上是青一陣紅一陣，他捏起拳頭，而且嚷得這樣響，至于樹葉都發(fā)抖，野草也嚇得往來動搖。待到他終于再平靜下去的時候，大家卻又歌唱起來了。

“Well，fie！”said a blackbird，who was listening from the top of a high tree，“that is a shocking noise to make！I had rather the cows should come into our wood．Only listen．Well，for shame！”
“呸，”一只白頭鳥，是從高樹上下來看看熱鬧的，說，“這是可驚的胡鬧！倘是一群牛們來到樹林里，我倒還要喜歡些。聽一下子罷，呸！”

Now the blackbird knows what he is talking about，and has a fine taste in music．
唔，那白頭鳥是懂事的，也有精微的鑒別。

After singing，the folks brought all sorts of eatables out of baskets，boxes and bags．Sheets of paper were spread out；cakes and oranges were handed round．And bottles and glasses also made their appearance．
歌唱之后，大家便從籃子、盒子和紙兜里拉出各種食物來。許多紙張攤開了，小面包和香橙分散了。也看見瓶子。

Then Windekind called his allies together，and they began to attack the feasters．
于是旋兒便召集他的同志們，并且開手，進(jìn)攻這宴樂的團(tuán)體。

A smart frog leaped up into an old maid's lap，flopped on to the bread she was just about to put into her mouth，and sat there as if amazed at his own audacity．The lady gave a fearful yell，and stared at the intruder without daring to stir．This bold beginning soon found imitators．Green caterpillars crept fearlessly over hats，handkerchiefs and rolls，inspiring terror and disgust；fat field-spiders let themselves down on glittering threads into beer glasses，and on to heads or necks，and a loud shriek always followed their appearance；endless winged creatures fairly attacked the human beings in the face， sacrificing their lives for the good cause by throwing themselves on the food and in the liquor，making them useless by their corpses．Finally the ants came in innumerable troops and stung the enemy in the most unexpected places，by hundreds at once．This gave rise to the greatest consternation and confusion．Men and women alike fled from the long crushed moss and grass．The poor blue-bell，too，was released in consequence of a well-directed attack by two ear-wigs on the stout maiden's legs．The men and women grew desperate；by dancing and leaping with the most extraordinary gestures，they tried to escape their persecutors．The pale man stood still for a long time，hitting about him with a small black stick；but a few audacious tomtits，who were not above any form of attack，and a wasp，who stung him in the calf through his black trousers，placed him hors de combat．
一匹大膽的蝦蟆跳到一個年老的小姐的大腿上，緊靠著她正要咀嚼的小面包，并且停在那里，似乎在驚異它自己的冒險。這小姐發(fā)一聲大叫，驚愕地凝視著攻擊者，自己卻不敢去觸它。這勇敢的例子得了仿效。碧綠的青蟲們大無畏地爬上了帽子、手巾和小面包，到處散布著愁悶和驚疑，大而胖的十字蜘蛛將燦爛的絲放在麥酒杯上、頭上以及頸子上，而且在它們的襲擊之后，總接著一聲尖銳的叫喊。無數(shù)的蠅直沖到人們的臉上來，還為著好東西犧牲了它們的性命，它們倒栽在食品和飲料里，因?yàn)樗鼈兊纳眢w連東西也弄得不能享用了。臨末，是來了看不分明的成堆的螞蟻，隨處成百地攻擊那敵人，不放一個人在這里做夢。這卻惹起了混亂和驚惶！男人們和女人們都慌忙從壓得那么久了的莓苔和小草上跳起來。那可憐的小藍(lán)鈴兒也被解放了，靠著兩匹螞蟻在胖太太的大腿上的成功的襲擊。絕望更加厲害了。人們旋轉(zhuǎn)著、跳躍著，想在很奇特的態(tài)度中來避開他們的追擊者。蒼白的男人抵抗了許多時，還用一枝黑色的小棍，憤憤地向各處打。然而兩匹勇敢的螞蟻，那是什么兵器都會用的，還有一個胡蜂鉆進(jìn)他的黑褲子，在腿肚上一刺，使他失了戰(zhàn)斗的能力。

Then the sun could no longer keep his countenance，and hid his face behind a cloud．Large drops of rain fell on the antagonistic parties．It looked as though the shower had suddenly made a forest of great black toadstools spring out of the ground．These were the umbrellas，which were hastily opened．The women turned their skirts over their heads，thus displaying their white petticoats， white-stockinged legs，and shoes without heels．Oh，what fun for Windekind！He had to hold on to a flower-stem to laugh．
這快活的太陽也就不能久駐，將他的臉藏在一片云后面了。大雨淋著這戰(zhàn)斗的兩黨。仿佛是因?yàn)橛?，地面上突然生出大的黑的地菌的森林來似的。這是張開的雨傘。幾個女人將衣裳蓋在頭上，于是分明看見白的小衫，白襪的腿和不帶高跟的鞋子。不，旋兒覺得多么好玩呵！他笑得必須緊抓著花梗了。

The rain fell more and more heavily；the forest was shrouded in a grey sparkling veil．Streams of water ran off the umbrellas，tall hats and black overcoats，which shone like the shell of a water-snail；their shoes slopped and smacked in the soaking ground．Then the people gave it up，and dropped off doubtfully in twos and threes， leaving behind them a litter of papers，empty bottles and orange peel，the hideous relics of their visit．The open glade in the forest was soon deserted once more，and ere long nothing was to be heard but the monotonous rush of the rain．
雨越下越密了，它開始將樹林罩在一個灰色的發(fā)光的網(wǎng)里。紛紛的水溜，從傘上，從高帽子上，以及水甲蟲的甲殼一般發(fā)著閃的黑衣服上直流下來，鞋在濕透的地上劈劈拍拍地響。人們于是交卸了，并且成了小群默默地退走。只留下一堆紙、空瓶子和橙子皮，當(dāng)作他們訪問的無味的遺蹤。樹林中的空曠的小草地上，便又寂寂與安靜起來，即刻只聽得獨(dú)有雨的單調(diào)的淅瀝。

“Well，Johannes！now we have seen what men are like．Why do you not laugh at them？”
“唔，約翰，我們也見過人類了，你為什么不也譏笑他們呢？”

“Oh，Windekind！Are all men like these？”
“唉，旋兒，所有人們都這樣的么？”

“Indeed，there are worse and uglier．Sometimes they shout and rave，and destroy everything that is pretty or good．They cut down trees and stick their horrible square houses in their place；they wilfully crush the flowers，and kill every creature that comes within their reach，merely for pleasure．In their dwellings，where they crowd one upon another，it is all dirty and black，and the air is tainted and poisoned by the smell of smoke．They are complete strangers to nature and their fellow-creatures．That is why they cut such a foolish，miserable figure when they come forth to see them．”
“阿！有些個還要惡得多，壞得多呢。他們常?？裨旰秃[，凡有美麗和華貴的，便毀滅它。他們砍倒樹木，在他們的地方造起笨重的四角的房子來。他們?nèi)涡蕴幕ǘ鋫?，還為了他們的高興，殺戮那凡有在他們的范圍之內(nèi)的各動物。他們一同盤據(jù)著的城市里，全都是污穢和烏黑，空氣是渾濁的，且被塵埃和煙氣毒掉了。他們是太疏遠(yuǎn)了天然和他們的同類，所以一回到天然這里，他們便做出這樣的瘋顛和凄慘的模樣來。”

“Oh dear！Windekind，Windekind．”
“唉，旋兒，旋兒！”

“Why do you cry，Johannes？ You must not cry because you were born to be a man．I love you all the same and choose you out of them all．I have taught you to understand the language of the butterflies and birds，and the faces of the flowers．The moon knows you，and the good kind earth regards you as her dearest child．Why should you not be glad since I am your friend？”
“你為什么哭呢，約翰？你不必因?yàn)槟闶巧谌祟愔械谋憧?。我愛你，我是從一切別的里面將你選出來的。我已經(jīng)教你懂得禽鳥和胡蝶和花的觀察了。月亮認(rèn)識你，而這好的柔和的大地，也愛你如它的最愛的孩子一般。我是你的朋友，你為什么不高興的呢？”

“You are，Windekind，you are！—still I cannot help crying over men．”
“阿，旋兒！我高興，我高興的！但我仍要哭，為著一切的這人類！”

“Why？ You need not remain among them if it vexes you．You can live here with me，and always keep me company．We will make our home in the thickest of the wood，in the solitary，sunny downs， or among the reeds by the pool．I will take you everywhere，down under the water among the water-plants，in the palaces of the elves and in the earth-spirits' homes．I will waft you over fields and forests，over strange lands and seas．I will make the spiders spin fine raiment for you，and give you wings such as I have．We will live on the scent of flowers，and dance with the elves in the moonlight．When autumn comes we will follow the summer，to where the tall palm-trees stand，where gorgeous bunches of flowers hang from the cliffs，and the dark blue ocean sparkles in the sun．And I will always tell you fairy tales．Will you like that，Johannes？”
“為什么呢？如果這使你憂愁，你用不著和他們在一處。你可以住在這里，并且永久追隨著我。我們要在最密的樹林里盤桓，在寂寞的、明朗的沙岡上，或者在池邊的蘆葦里。我要帶你到各處去，到水底里，在水草之間，到妖精的宮闕里，到小鬼頭的住所里。我要同你飄泛，在曠野和森林上，在遠(yuǎn)方的陸地和海面上。我要使蜘蛛給你織一件衣裳，并且給你翅子，像我所生著的似的。我們要靠花香為生，還在月光中和妖精們跳舞。秋天一近，我們便和夏天一同遷徙，到那繁生著高大的椰樹的地方，彩色的花傘掛在峰頭，還有深藍(lán)的海面在日光中燦爛，而且我要永久講給你童話。你愿意么，約翰？”

“And I shall never live among men any more？”
“那我就可以永不住在人類里面了么？”

“Among men，endless vexations await you，weariness，troubles and sorrow．Day after day you will toil and sigh under the burden of life．Your tender soul will be wounded and tortured by their rough ways．You will be worn and grieved to death．Do you love men more than you love me？”
“在人類里忍受著你的無窮的悲哀、煩惱、艱窘和憂愁。每天每天，你將使你苦辛，而且在生活的重?fù)?dān)底下嘆息。他們會用他們的粗獷來損傷或窘迫你柔弱的靈魂。他們將使你無聊和苦惱到死。你愛人類過于愛我么？”

“No，no！Windekind，I will stay with you．”
“不，不！旋兒，我要留在你這里！”

Now he could prove how much he cared for Windekind．Yes，he would forsake and forget everybody and everything for his sake：his little room，and Presto，and his father．He repeated his wish，full of joy and determination．
他對旋兒表示，他怎樣地很愛他。他愿意將一切和所有自己這一面的拋棄和遺忘。他的小房子，他的父親和普烈斯多。高興而堅決地他重述他的愿望。

The rain had ceased．A bright smile of sunshine gleamed through the grey clouds on the wet sparkling leaves，on the drops which hung twinkling from every twig and blade of grass，and gemmed the spiders' webs spread among the oak leaves．A filmy mist rose slowly from the moist earth and hung over the underwood， bringing up a thousand warm，sleepy odours．The blackbird flew to the topmost bough and sang a short，passionate melody to the sinking sun—as though he would show what kind of singing befitted the spot—in the solemn evening stillness，to the soft accompaniment of falling drops．
雨停止了，在灰色的云底下，閃出一片歡喜的微笑的太陽光，經(jīng)過樹林，照著濕而發(fā)光的樹葉，還照著在所有枝梗上閃爍，并且裝飾著張在槲樹枝間的蛛網(wǎng)的水珠。從叢草中的濕地上，騰起一道淡淡的霧氣來，夾帶著千數(shù)甘美的夢幻的香味。白頭鳥這時飛上了最高的枝梢，用著簡短的、親密的音節(jié)，為落日歌唱——仿佛它要試一試，怎樣的歌，才適宜于這嚴(yán)肅的晚靜，和為下墮的水珠作溫柔的同伴。

“Is that not more lovely than the noises of men，Johannes？ Ah，the blackbird knows exactly the right thing to sing！Here all is harmony；you will find none so perfect among men．”
“這不比人聲還美么，約翰？是的，白頭鳥早知道敲出恰當(dāng)?shù)囊繇嵙恕＿@里一切都是諧和，一個如此完全的，你在人類中永遠(yuǎn)得不到?！?/span>

“What is harmony，Windekind？”
“什么是諧和，旋兒？”

“It is the same thing as happiness．It is that which all agree in striving after．Men too，but they do so like children trying to catch a butterfly．Their stupid efforts are just what scare it away．”
“這和幸福是一件事。一切都向著它努力。人類也這樣。但他們總是弄得像那想捉胡蝶的兒童。正因?yàn)樗麄兊淖颈康呐Γ瑓s將它驚走了。”

“And shall I find it with you？”
“我會在你這里得到諧和么？”

“Yes，Johannes．But you must forget men and women．It is a bad beginning to have been born to be a man；but you are still young．You must put away from you all remembrance of your human life；among them you would go astray，and fall into mischief and strife and wretchedness—it would be with you as it was with the young cockchafer of whom I told you．”
“是的，約翰！那你就應(yīng)該將人類忘卻。生在人類里，是一個惡劣的開端，然而你還幼小——你必須將在你記憶上的先前的人間生活一一除去。這些都會使你迷惑和錯亂、紛爭、零落。那你就要像我所講的幼小的金蟲一樣了?！?/span>

“What happened to him afterwards？”
“它后來怎樣了呢？”

“He saw the beautiful light of which the old chafer spoke；he thought he could do no better than fly towards it at once．He flew straight into a room，and into a human hand．For three days he lived in torture；he was shut up in a cardboard box；they tied a thread to his feet and let him fly at the end of it；then they untied him，with one wing and one leg torn off；and at last，helplessly creeping round and round on a carpet，trying to feel his way back to the garden，a heavy foot crushed him to death．All the creatures，Johannes，which come out and about at night are just as much children of the Sun as we are．And although they have never seen their glorious father， still an obscure remembrance always tempts them wherever a light is beaming．And thousands of poor creatures of the darkness find a miserable end through their love for the Sun，from which they were so long since parted，and to which they have become strangers．And in the same way a vague and irresistible attraction brings men to ruin in the false image of that Great Light whence they proceeded，but which they no longer know．”
“它看見明亮的光，那老甲蟲說起過的。它想，除了即刻飛往那里之外，它不能做什么較好的事了。它直線地飛到一間屋，并且落在人手里。它在那里受苦至三日之久！它坐在紙匣里，人用一條線系在它腿上，還使它這樣地飛！于是它掙脫了，并且失去了一個翅子和一條腿，而且終于——其間它無助地在地毯上四處爬，也徒勞地試著往那園里去——被一只沉重的腳踏碎了。一切動物，約翰，凡是在夜里到處彷徨的，正如我們一樣，是太陽的孩子。它們雖然從來沒有見過它們的晃耀的父親，卻仍然永是引起一種不知不覺的記憶，向往著發(fā)光的一切。千數(shù)可憐的幽暗的生物，就從這對于久已遷移和疏遠(yuǎn)了的太陽的愛，得到極悲慘的死亡。一個不可解的、不能抗的沖動，就引著人類向那毀壞，向那警起他們而他們所不識的大光的幻象那里去?！?/span>

Johannes looked inquiringly into Windekind's eyes，but they were as deep and mysterious as the dark sky between the stars．
約翰想要發(fā)問似的仰視旋兒的眼。但那眼卻幽深而神秘，一如眾星之間的黑暗的天。

“Do you mean God？”he timidly asked．
“你想上帝么？”他終于戰(zhàn)戰(zhàn)兢兢地問。

“God？”There was a soft smile in the deep eyes．“I know， Johannes，what you are thinking of when you speak that word，—of the chair by your bed-side where you knelt to say your long prayers last evening—of the green serge curtains in front of the church window，which you gaze at by the hour on Sunday mornings—of the capital letters in your little Bible—of the church-bag with its long pole—of the stupid singing and the stuffy atmosphere．All that you mean by the word，Johannes，is a monstrous，false image．In place of the sun a huge petroleum lamp，to which thousands and thousands of flies are helplessly and hopelessly stuck fast！”
“上帝？”這幽深的眼睛溫和地微笑，“只要你說出話來，約翰，我便知道你所想的是什么。你想那床前的椅子，你每晚上在它前面說那長的禱告的——想那教堂窗上的綠絨的幃幔，你每日曜日的早晨看得它這么長久的——想那你的贊美歌書的花紋字母——想那帶著長柄的鈴包——想那壞的歌唱和熏蒸的人氣。你用了那一個名稱所表示的，約翰，是一個可笑的幻象——不是太陽而是一盞大的煤油燈，成千成百的飛蟲兒在那上面無助地緊粘著。”

“But what then is the name of that Great Light，Windekind？ And to whom must I pray？”
“但這大光是怎么稱呼呢，旋兒？我應(yīng)該向誰禱告呢？”

“Johannes，it is as though a patch of mould should ask me what was the name of the earth which bears it round in space．Even if there were any answer to your question you would no more understand it than an earthworm can hear the music of the stars．Still，I will teach you to pray．”
“約翰，這就像一個霉菌問我，這帶著它旋轉(zhuǎn)著的大地，應(yīng)當(dāng)怎樣稱呼。如果對于你的詢問有回答，那你就將懂得它，有如蚯蚓之于群星的音樂了。禱告呢，我倒是愿意教給你的?！?/span>

And while Johannes was still silently wondering over Windekind's reply，the elf flew out of the wood with him，high up，so high that beyond the edge of the down a long narrow line was visible，gleaming like gold．They flew on and on，the undulating sand-hills beneath them gliding away，and the streak of light growing broader and broader．The green hue faded，the wild broom was grey and thin，and strange bluish-green plants grew among the bushes．Then another range of hills—a long narrow strip of sand—and beyond，the wide unresting sea．The vast expanse was blue to the very horizon；but out there，under the sun，a small streak shone in blinding red fire．
旋兒和那在沉靜的驚愕中、深思著他的話的小約翰，飛出樹林，這樣高，至于沿著岡邊，分明見得是長的金閃閃的一線。他們再飛遠(yuǎn)去，變幻的成影的丘岡景色都在他們的眼下飛逝，而光的線是逐漸寬廣起來。沙岡的綠色消失了，岸邊的蘆葦見得黯淡，也如特別的淺藍(lán)的植物，生長其間。又是一排連岡，一條伸長的、狹窄的沙線，于是就是那廣遠(yuǎn)的雄偉的海。藍(lán)的是寬大的水面，直到遠(yuǎn)處的地平線，在太陽下，卻有一條狹的線發(fā)著光，閃出通紅的晃耀。

An endless fringe of downy-looking white foam edged the waters，as ermine borders blue velvet．
一條長的、白的飛沫的邊鑲著海面，宛如黃鼬皮上鑲了藍(lán)色的天鵝絨。

On the horizon a wonderful，fine line divided the air from the ocean．It was indeed a marvel；straight yet curved；sharply defined yet non-existent；visible yet intangible．It was like the vibration of a harp-string，which thrills dreamily for a long time，seeming to die away and yet still be there．
地平線上分出一條柔和的、天和水的奇異的界線。這像是一個奇跡：直的，且是彎的；截然的，且是游移的；分明的，且是不可捉摸的。這有如曼長而夢幻地響著的琴聲，似乎繞繚著，然而且是消歇的。

Then little Johannes sat down on the sand-hill and gazed—gazed long—motionless and silent；till he felt as though he were about to die，—as though the great golden gates of the Infinite had opened majestically before him，and his little soul were soaring forth towards the first light of eternity．
于是小約翰坐在沙阜邊上眺望——長久地不動地沉默著眺望——一直到他仿佛應(yīng)該死，仿佛這宇宙的大的黃金的門莊嚴(yán)地開開了，而且仿佛他的小小的靈魂，徑飄向無窮的最初的光線去。

Until the tears，which welled up to his wide-open eyes，had dimmed the radiance of the sun，and the splendour of sky and earth floated off into soft tremulous light．
一直到從他那圓睜的眼里涌出的人世的淚，幕住了美麗的太陽，并且使那天和地的豪華回向那暗淡的、顫動的黃昏里……

“That is the way to pray！”said Windekind．
“你須這樣地禱告！”其時旋兒說。